Written by Sara Serinelli (ISH Resident 2018)
In my search for accommodation, I ended up talking to an Italian girl who had been living at ISH for a while. She told me that I had to contact ISH and that I wouldn’t regret it! Well, she was right!
The connections I built at ISH were the best thing, as it was my first time alone and abroad. London can be overwhelming and a bit shocking for someone coming from a small town. The friends I made have become brothers and sisters to me, and we keep each other updated on our lives to date. Parties, events, trips and celebrations at ISH made me feel at home, and I never felt alone: it was such a comfort to go back to my room after a day out.
The first thing my sister told me when she came to pick me up at the airport after my exchange was: “You left as a girl and came back as a woman”. I grew up, yes, but I grew up with an open mind, which is even more important: my soul is made of all colors and cultures, and my eyes have witnessed what love between strangers is.
I carry with me a lot of little objects like gifts, cards, theatre tickets, all memories of what we did during our days at ISH. But most of all, I carry with me the most important lesson: I know I can find friends in any corner of the world and be certain that they will be there even when we are distant.